The Shaw Group v. Kulick

915 So. 2d 796, 2005 WL 844734
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedApril 8, 2005
Docket2004 CA 0697, 2004 CA 0698
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 915 So. 2d 796 (The Shaw Group v. Kulick) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
The Shaw Group v. Kulick, 915 So. 2d 796, 2005 WL 844734 (La. Ct. App. 2005).

Opinion

915 So.2d 796 (2005)

THE SHAW GROUP
v.
Christian D. KULICK.
Christian D. KULICK
v.
THE SHAW GROUP.

No. 2004 CA 0697, 2004 CA 0698.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.

April 8, 2005.

*798 Michael B. Forbes, Hammond, for Appellant Christian D. Kulick.

Brent M. Steier, John J. Rabalais, Janice B. Unland, Robert T. Lorio, Diana L. Tonagel, Covington, for Appellee The Shaw Group.

Before: PARRO, KUHN, and WELCH, JJ.

WELCH, J.

In this workers' compensation case, the employee, Christian Kulick, appeals from a judgment granting a motion for summary judgment filed by his employer, The Shaw Group ("Shaw"), that denied workers' compensation benefits to Christian Kulick based on the intoxication defense set forth in La. R.S. 23:1081. Finding that genuine issues of material fact preclude summary judgment, we reverse the judgment of the workers' compensation judge and remand this matter for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On May 30, 2003, Christian Kulick was removing bolts from a manway hole on a storage vessel when the 750 pound cover to the manway hole shifted and fell on him, fracturing both sides of his pelvis as it trapped him between the manway cover and the storage vessel.[1] It is undisputed that at the time of the accident, Christian Kulick was in the course and scope of his employment with Shaw. It is also undisputed that Shaw had in effect a written and promulgated substance abuse rule or policy providing for testing for drug use, and that the urine specimen obtained from Christian Kulick after the accident yielded positive results for THC (marijuana).

Shaw commenced proceedings to contest Christian Kulick's entitlement to workers' compensation benefits on the basis that he forfeited his right to workers' compensation benefits due to intoxication pursuant to La. R.S. 23:1081. Christian Kulick initiated separate proceedings to recover workers' compensation benefits, contending that he was not intoxicated at the time of the accident. He further contended *799 that regardless of the positive drug screen, the accident was unavoidable. The two proceedings were consolidated by agreement of the parties.

Shaw filed a motion for summary judgment based on the intoxication defense and the workers' compensation judge rendered judgment granting Shaw's motion. Christian Kulick appeals this judgment on the grounds that genuine issues of material fact exist regarding whether Christian Kulick's presumed intoxication at the time of the accident "was not a contributing cause of the accident."[2] We agree.

SUMMARY JUDGMENT

A motion for summary judgment is a procedural device used to avoid a full-scale trial when there is no genuine issue of material fact. Craig v. Bantek West, Inc., XXXX-XXXX (La.App. 1st Cir.9/17/04), 885 So.2d 1241, 1244-45; Western Sizzlin Steakhouse v. McDuffie, XXXX-XXXX (La. App. 1st Cir.3/28/03), 844 So.2d 355, 357, writ denied, XXXX-XXXX (La.6/20/03), 847 So.2d 1236. The summary judgment procedure is favored and is designed to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action. La. C.C.P. art. 966(A)(2). The motion should be granted only if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with any affidavits, show that there is no genuine issue as to material fact and that mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. La. C.C.P. art. 966(B).

On a motion for summary judgment, the burden of proof is on the mover. If, however, the mover will not bear the burden of proof at trial on the matter that is before the court on the motion for summary judgment, the mover's burden on the motion does not require that all essential elements of the adverse party's claim, action, or defense be negated. Instead, the mover need only point out to the court that there is an absence of factual support for one or more elements essential to the adverse party's claim, action, or defense. Thereafter, the adverse party must produce factual evidence sufficient to establish that he will be able to satisfy his evidentiary burden of proof at trial. If the adverse party fails to meet this burden, there is no genuine issue of material fact, and the mover is entitled to summary judgment. La. C.C.P. art. 966(C)(2); Robles v. ExxonMobile, XXXX-XXXX (La.App. 1st Cir.3/28/03), 844 So.2d 339, 341.

When appropriate under Articles 966 and 967, summary judgment is available in workers' compensation cases. See La. C.C.P. art. 966(A)(2); La. R.S. 23:1317(A); Craig, 885 So.2d at 1244; Sept v. City of Baker, 98-1190 (La.App. 1st Cir.5/18/99), 733 So.2d 748, 751, abrogated on other grounds by Dufrene v. Video Co-Op, Louisiana Workers' Compensation Corp., XXXX-XXXX (La.4/9/03), 843 So.2d 1066. In determining whether summary judgment is appropriate, appellate courts review evidence de novo under the same criteria that govern the trial court's determination of whether summary judgment is appropriate. Independent Fire Ins. Co. v. Sunbeam Corp., 99-2181, 99-2257 (La.2/29/00), 755 So.2d 226, 230; Allen v. State ex rel. Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority, XXXX-XXXX (La.4/9/03), 842 So.2d 373, 377. An appellate court thus asks the same questions as does the trial court in determining *800 whether summary judgment is appropriate: whether there is any genuine issue of material fact, and whether the mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Ernest v. Petroleum Service Corp., 2002-2482 (La.App. 1st Cir.11/19/03), 868 So.2d 96, 97, writ denied, XXXX-XXXX (La.2/20/04), 866 So.2d 830. The review of a summary judgment in a workers' compensation case is conducted in the same manner. Davis v. AMS Tube Corp., XXXX-XXXX (La.App. 1st Cir.6/22/01), 801 So.2d 466, 468, writ denied, 2001-2122 (La.11/2/01), 800 So.2d 877.

In Smith v. Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, Inc., 93-2512 (La.7/5/94), 639 So.2d 730, 751, the Louisiana Supreme Court set forth the following parameters for determining whether an issue is genuine or a fact is material:

In determining whether an issue is "genuine," courts cannot consider the merits, make credibility determinations, evaluate testimony or weigh evidence. ...
A fact is "material" when its existence or nonexistence may be essential to plaintiff's cause of action under the applicable theory of recovery. "[F]acts are material if they potentially insure or preclude recovery, affect a litigant's ultimate success, or determine the outcome of the legal dispute." Simply put, a "material" fact is one that would matter on the trial on the merits. [Citations omitted.] (Emphasis added.)

Because it is the applicable substantive law that determines materiality, whether a particular fact in dispute is material can be seen only in light of the substantive law applicable to the case. Foreman v. Danos and Curole Marine Contractors, Inc., 97-2038 (La.App. 1st Cir.9/25/98), 722 So.2d 1, 4, writ denied, 98-2703 (La.12/18/98), 734 So.2d 637. Thus, we now turn to a discussion of the law applicable to this case.

INTOXICATION DEFENSE

In order for Christian Kulick to receive workers' compensation benefits, he must establish by a preponderance of the evidence, "personal injury by accident arising out of and in the course of his employment" with Shaw. La. R.S. 23:1031(A). This issue is undisputed. However, La. R.S.

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915 So. 2d 796, 2005 WL 844734, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/the-shaw-group-v-kulick-lactapp-2005.